Firefighter turns ARSONIST to save his station from closure

A RECKLESS firefighter was so desperate to save a fire station threatened with closure he turned arsonist - by deliberately creating TWO fires.

Richard Naughton has now resigned as a retained firefighter at Knighton station [CASCADE NEWS]

Richard Naughton, 33, took matters into his owns hands when he deliberately started the two skip blazes within a week, in a bid to increase call-out figures at Knighton fire station in Powys, Mid Wales.

In his attempt to prove the importance of the station - where he had worked as a retained firefighter for seven years - Naughton was captured on CCTV setting the skips alight using a box of matches at Knighton Recycling Centre and later arrested by police.

Naughton initially pleaded not guilty to his offences on November 11 and 17 last year before changing his plea to guilty on the day of his trial at Llandidrod Wells County Court.

Magistrates ordered him to complete a 12 month community order with a requirement to complete 10 sessions of a positive thinking course and 90 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £330 compensation to Powys County Council for the damage to the skips, £225 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Probation officer Stuart Arrowsmith said Naughton had punished himself by resigning from his position as a retained firefighter.

"The reason for the offences was that there was a danger of the fire station closing so he thought he would take it upon himself to increase the call out figures by starting fires to the skips," he said.

"This shows a clear deficit in consequential thinking.

"Naughton accepts that this was a reckless and stupid thing to do although the damage caused was minimal and very minor."

There is remorse and if he could turn back time he would, but he must face the consequences of his actions

Probation officer Stuart Arrowsmith

Mr Arrowsmith continued: "He has punished himself by resigning and Knighton has been deprived of the services of a dedicated firefighter.

"Serving the community meant a great deal to him. There is remorse and if he could turn back time he would, but he must face the consequences of his actions.

"However, these fires could have been the difference between the closure of the fire station."